Commercial Trucking recruiters serving Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids has 36% more heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers per job than the country as a whole, about 10,820 in the metro. BLS counts 393 business locations of general freight trucking companies across the metro. Below: local pay for every role we staff, the state licensing rules that apply and the nearby markets competing for the same people.
Positions we recruit for in Grand Rapids.
BLS counts about 19,030 people working in the occupations behind these roles across the Grand Rapids metro, the largest group being heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (about 10,820). Relative to the size of the local economy, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers are far more concentrated here than nationally (location quotient 1.36). Local headcount and pay for each role are below; role descriptions are on the Commercial Trucking hub.
CDL-A Truck Driver
Sample job description →Grand Rapids: 10,820 employed · $58,270 median, 62nd-highest of 112 metros
CDL-B Truck Driver
Sample job description →Grand Rapids: 4,520 employed · $43,490 median, 57th-highest of 112 metros
Dispatcher / Fleet Coordinator
Grand Rapids: 860 employed · $49,400 median, 56th-highest of 111 metros
Fleet Manager
Grand Rapids: 1,130 employed · $97,980 median, 88th-highest of 112 metros
Safety & Compliance Manager (DOT)
Grand Rapids: 900 employed · $68,780 median, 91st-highest of 112 metros
Diesel Mechanic / Fleet Technician
Grand Rapids: 1,550 employed · $61,240 median, 64th-highest of 112 metros
Logistics Coordinator
Grand Rapids: 260 employed · $45,060 median, 87th-highest of 96 metros
Driver Recruiter
Grand Rapids: 3,490 employed · $65,760 median, 89th-highest of 112 metros
Terminal Manager
Route / Delivery Supervisor
Grand Rapids: 2,140 employed · $60,270 median, 85th-highest of 112 metros
What Commercial Trucking roles earn in Grand Rapids.
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in Grand Rapids earn a median $58,270, level with the $58,640 national figure, and 62nd of 112 metros. Pay runs $42,840 at the tenth percentile to $73,740 at the ninetieth. The best-paid role below is bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists, at $61,240 against $61,770 nationally.
| Role | Grand Rapids median | Typical range | National median | vs. national | Employed locally |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CDL-A Truck DriverHeavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (53-3032) | $58,270 | $42,840–$73,740 | $58,640 | −1% | 10,820 |
| CDL-B Truck DriverLight Truck Drivers (53-3033) | $43,490 | $30,180–$92,400 | $44,860 | −3% | 4,520 |
| Dispatcher / Fleet CoordinatorDispatchers (43-5032) | $49,400 | $30,930–$83,130 | $50,340 | −2% | 860 |
| Fleet Manager · Terminal ManagerTransportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers (11-3071) | $97,980 | $63,030–$162,250 | $107,230 | −9% | 1,130 |
| Safety & Compliance Manager (DOT)Compliance Officers (13-1041) | $68,780 | $43,320–$115,780 | $80,730 | −15% | 900 |
| Diesel Mechanic / Fleet TechnicianBus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (49-3031) | $61,240 | $45,170–$84,280 | $61,770 | −1% | 1,550 |
| Logistics CoordinatorCargo and Freight Agents (43-5011) | $45,060 | $38,750–$94,850 | $52,260 | −14% | 260 |
| Driver RecruiterHuman Resources Specialists (13-1071) | $65,760 | $46,010–$104,600 | $75,940 | −13% | 3,490 |
| Route / Delivery SupervisorFirst-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers (53-1047) | $60,270 | $42,760–$89,570 | $62,890 | −4% | 2,140 |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Grand Rapids metro. Range is 10th to 90th percentile; management and office roles are metro-wide. A metro ranking counts only the metros where BLS publishes that occupation.
How Grand Rapids's commercial trucking market has changed since 2018.
The number of general freight trucking companies in Grand Rapids rose from 291 in 2018 to 393 in 2023, up 35%, behind the 49% growth nationally. Headcount at those firms went down 5%, to about 6,523 people, so more firms are sharing fewer workers. Average annual pay there went from $52,943 to $66,892 (+26%), faster than the 23% national increase, a sign employers here have had to bid up.
| Measure | 2018 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| General freight trucking companies: business locations | 291 | 393 | +35% |
| General freight trucking companies: employment | 6,877 | 6,523 | −5% |
| General freight trucking companies: average annual pay | $52,943 | $66,892 | +26% |
BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, private employers, annual averages. A dash means BLS did not publish the figure.
Free Commercial Trucking hiring resources.
Definitive Guide to Commercial Trucking · 2026 Commercial Trucking Salary Guide · 3-Step Interview Guide for Commercial Trucking
Grand Rapids runs 36% more commercial trucking workers per job than the country as a whole — well above the national concentration. More per job means more people to reach, and more employers reaching them.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers. Metro-wide figures for the base occupation; the wage table above is role-specific and commercial.
How Grand Rapids's commercial trucking market compares
Among the 100 metros we cover with published BLS figures, Grand Rapids ranks 37th for headcount, 57th for median pay and 15th for concentration for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers.
| Metro | Employed | Median pay | Concentration | Commercial employers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | 25,780 | $59,120 | 1.02 | 2,427 |
| Grand Rapids | 10,820 | $58,270 | 1.36 | 393 |
BLS OEWS occupation figures and QCEW business-location counts; a dash means not published.
What this means for hiring:For commercial trucking employers in Grand Rapids, the pool is deep but local employers have been cutting headcount. Experienced people are here, and some will be open to a move, so a clear offer and a defined path up usually beat a higher posted rate.
Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 annual averages and BLS OEWS May 2025, Grand Rapids metro. Employers are counted by business location.
Commercial Trucking licensing in Michigan.
Michigan's CDL manual sets 18 as the intrastate floor and 21 for crossing a state line, and separately requires 21 to transport hazardous materials requiring marking or placarding - so an 18-to-20-year-old can run your Michigan-only material truck but not a placarded load. Michigan's intrastate medical relief is issued by a different body than the licence: for non-excepted intrastate operation the manual states you do not file your medical certification or Motor Carrier Division Medical Waiver with the Department of State, but it must be in your possession while driving - so for a Michigan intrastate driver, check the cab and the qualification file rather than the state record. K is CDL intrastate only, displayed both for drivers under 21 and for anyone self-certifying excepted or non-excepted intrastate. Note the agency name precisely: the Michigan Department of State, operating as the Secretary of State. There is no Michigan DMV. The same state rules apply in Detroit, so candidates licensed there can work in Grand Rapids without re-qualifying.
Licensing authority: Michigan Department of State (Secretary of State). Confirm current rules with the agency.
Nearby markets competing for Grand Rapids talent.
The closest metro we cover is Milwaukee, about 115 miles away, with roughly 10,250 heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (0.9 times Grand Rapids's 10,820). Chicago pays the most nearby, a $62,300 median, 7% above Grand Rapids. That is the number any Grand Rapids offer is competing with when experienced people weigh a move. Chicago has the deepest pool within reach, so a search for senior roles here usually extends there.
| Metro | Distance | Employed | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids | – | 10,820 | $58,270 |
| Milwaukee | 113 mi | 10,250 | $59,580 |
| Chicago | 127 mi | 62,210 | $62,300 |
| Detroit | 140 mi | 25,780 | $59,120 |
| Madison | 189 mi | 4,160 | $59,700 |
| Indianapolis | 222 mi | 20,480 | $61,980 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025; straight-line miles.
What else is competing for Grand Rapids crews.
Not commercial trucking work. These are the capital projects big enough to pull the same crews into Grand Rapids in the months you are trying to fill a seat, each with the status its own market page reports.
- Joan Secchia Children's Rehabilitation Hospital$60MOpening fall 2026
A pediatric rehabilitation hospital built across the street from Mary Free Bed, connected by a pedestrian walkway - adds another hospital-grade construction project to the Medical Mile corridor.
- JR Automation headquarters (Zeeland)UndisclosedBroke ground September 2025
A single-campus manufacturing and production headquarters for the lakeshore automation manufacturer, with plans to more than double manufacturing space if market conditions allow - industrial construction outside the Medical Mile corridor.
- Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital addition$1.34BConstruction starting summer 2027, complete 2030
780,000 sq ft and 180 rooms added to Butterworth Hospital. Hospital-grade mechanical, medical gas plumbing, and ICRA-compliant construction at the anchor of Grand Rapids' "Medical Mile."
Showing 3 of 4 projects tracked in this metro. The Grand Rapids market page lists them all.
What credentials matter for commercial trucking, and what kills offers in Grand Rapids.
The 4 credentials that gate the work and the 4 things that most often end a commercial trucking offer are the same in every market, kept in one place: Commercial Trucking credentials and offer risks, each linked to the body that issues it. What is local is the licensing rule above and the pay further up this page.
Is Grand Rapids a linehaul market or a last-mile one?
Grand Rapids carries 10,820 heavy and tractor-trailer drivers against 4,520 light-truck drivers, 2.4 to one against a 1.8 median, 29th of 112 on that ratio.
Concentration says more than the split: a 1.36 location quotient, 36% more heavy-truck drivers per job than the country, so the depth is there whichever way the mix reads.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (53-3032) against light truck drivers (53-3033), across the 112 metros BLS publishes both series for.
Frequently asked - Commercial Trucking hiring in Grand Rapids.
What do heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn in Grand Rapids?
BLS puts the Grand Rapids median for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers at $58,270 a year, about the same as the $58,640 national median. That ranks 62nd of 112 metros with published figures, in the middle of the pack. Most of the market sits between $42,840 and $73,740, a 1.7x gap and a moderate spread, so a few thousand dollars over the median buys real experience. No other Michigan metro we cover pays more for this work (Detroit: $59,120).
Is it hard to hire heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in Grand Rapids?
Not by national standards. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers make up 36% more of the Grand Rapids workforce than they do nationally, about 10,820 people. The 393 general freight trucking companies here average about 17 employees per location. With 35% more of those firms than in 2018, more employers are competing for the same crews.
Which commercial trucking roles pay the most in Grand Rapids?
Of the roles we recruit for, Fleet Manager pays the most in Grand Rapids, a $97,980 median (BLS measures that occupation across all industries in the metro). Among field roles the top earner is Diesel Mechanic / Fleet Technician at $61,240, 37% below it. CDL-B Truck Driver is the lowest-paid field role at $43,490. Safety & Compliance Manager (DOT) trails national pay the most (15% below).
How many general freight trucking companies operate in Grand Rapids?
BLS counted 393 general freight trucking companies in Grand Rapids in 2023, employing about 6,523 people between them. Up from 291 in 2018, a 35% increase against 49% growth nationally. That averages 17 people per location. They pay about the national average of $65,587.
Which nearby metros compete with Grand Rapids for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers?
The closest metros we cover with published figures are Milwaukee (113 miles, about 10,250, $59,580 median), Chicago (127 miles, about 62,210, $62,300 median) and Detroit (140 miles, about 25,780, $59,120 median). Chicago has the larger pool, so it is the first place to look for senior people willing to move. Chicago pays 7% more, which is where Grand Rapids employers tend to lose people.
Plenty of people. Few of them looking.
Grand Rapids has one of the deeper pools of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers we cover, but the best of them are already working. Let's find the ones ready to move.
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